A Nickel for the Lord

"Yesterday he wore a rose on the lapel of his coat, but when the plate was passed today he gave a nickel to the Lord. He had several bills in his pocket and sundry change, perhaps a dollar's worth, but he hunted about, and finding this poor little nickel, he laid it on the plate to aid the Church militant in its fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. His silk hat was beneath the seat, and his gloves and cane were beside it, and the nickel was on the plate; a whole nickel.

"On Saturday afternoon he met a friend, and together they had some refreshments. The cash register stamped thirty-five cents on the slip the boy presented to him. Peeling off a bill he handed it to the lad and gave him a nickel tip when he brought back the change. A nickel for the Lord and a nickel for the waiter!

"And the man had his shoes polished on Saturday afternoon and handed out a dime without a murmur. He had a shave and paid fifteen cents with equal alacrity. He took a box of candies home to his wife and paid forty cents for them, and the box was tied with a dainty bit of ribbon. Yes, and he also gave a nickel to the Lord.

"Who is this Lord?”

"Who is He?” Why, the man worships Him as Creator of the universe, the One who puts the stars in order, and by whose immutable decree the heavens stand. Yes, he does, and he dropped a nickel in to support the Church militant.

"And what is the Church militant?”

"The Church militant is the Church that represents upon the earth the triumphant Church of the great God.”

"And the man knew that he was an atom in space, and he knew that the Almighty was without limitations, and knowing this he put his hand in his pocket, and picked out the nickel, and gave it to the Lord.”

“And the Lord being gracious, and slow to anger, and knowing our frame, did not slay the man for the meanness of his offering but gives him this day his daily bread.”

“The nickel hid beneath a quarter that was given by a poor woman that washes for a living."

Source: John G. Lake – The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings, compiled by Roberts Liardon, p. 631